Ex-Anglo Irish Bank chief held in US ahead of extradition hearing

The former CEO of Anglo Irish Bank, who authorities in Ireland have been seeking to question over the bank's collapse, has been arrested in the US and could face extradition.

David Drumm, 48, was detained by US Marshals in Massachusetts, according to a report on the Irish Times website.

The paper quoted Christina DiIorio-Sterling, a spokeswoman for the the US attorney in Massachusetts, as saying: "I can confirm that Mr Drumm was arrested by US Marshals in Massachusetts on an extradition warrant."

Mr Drumm is being held in custody ahead of an extradition hearing on Tuesday, the paper reported.

Ireland has been seeking his extradition to answer questions about the events leading up to the collapse of Anglo Irish.

The bank collapsed amid the financial crisis in 2009.

It was nationalised but eventually folded in 2011 and has since been he subject of an investigation by Ireland's Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Director of Corporate Enforcement.

Mr Drumm resigned as chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank at the close of 2008 and six months later moved to Massachusetts.

In the US, Mr Drumm fought a four-year legal battle to have himself declared bankrupt by the US courts, but the attempt was ultimately unsuccessful.